Posts from the ‘Bear’ category

A year later

It was a year ago, yesterday, that Bear had his first TPLO surgery.

The sunroom was the recuperative suite.

And dear Bear recuperated…

…with the help and companionship of “Nurse” Bob.

Mr. Bob… I miss you every day, I dream of you often. I’m so happy you were part of my life and I think I can speak for Bear and say that he is happy that you were there for him post-op for both of his TPLO surgeries!

A year from TPLO1 and 9 months from TPLO2 – the Bear-boy is doing wonderfully. All muscle has been regained, he moves with a normal gait and appears to have no soreness. A perfect outcome.

*** T.P.L.O.

Happy Birthday Bear! …and other beautiful things

Happy, Happy Birthday, dear Bear Boy – AND MANY MORE!!!

Yep, right there, that’s the spot…

Rubs and scratches and extra treats for Mr. Bear who turned 9 today!

On this very beautiful day.

We’ve had absolutely gorgeous weather with sunny days in the mid to upper 50’s (F) – Bear and my favorite temperature range!!!

Blue skies.

Gold Autumn leaves.

Perfection.

This morning…

Bear and I were down the road home fairly early for a birthday extra Jeep ride and walk.

It was well worth it for not only the getting out and about and birthday, etc. but also for the scenery…

Beautiful.

…some of us thought the blue sky and sun was a bit much…

A week

Auggie has been with Bear and me for a week.

He is sweet and happy and curious and increasingly confident. It has been a week of watching him grow in all kinds of ways.

We went to our own vet on Tuesday and got a good report: negative for all of the kitten stuff they test for, booster vaccinations and a general “sound body and good disposition” report.

The paradox is that those first days and some of all of this week were also so hard. This has happened to me before, but I always forget and it catches me off guard. Getting a new pet after losing one is a strange combination of fun, distraction and joy in folding the new into the routine but the flip side is that it is also that absolute realization that the lost pet really is no longer here. A finality that I find very difficult while at the same time the new kid and new routine needs a lot of attention. There is no getting around the fact that all is very different and it is not going to be comfortable again for awhile.

Life.

Meanwhile, Fall progresses and we’ve had 2 hard freezes. But there are still pleasant temperatures in the daytime forecast so I’ve been covering the herbs at night with the lights down low and using the lights directly during the day for “helper” sunshine. So far, all looks good.

I’ve been finding yellow jacket nests, fallen out of trees, in the yard and the woods. I’m not sure if hibernating queens are in these but I’m spraying and getting them out of here just in case.

The aspens and birch are turning and the larch are lightening to chartreuse. By next weekend there should be a lot of gold in the woods.

Auggie is very interested in the outdoors, especially when Bear and I are out. By January – maybe even a little before, I’ll take him out on leash to explore if he wants to. My hope is that he would enjoy being outside with Bear and me but be, like Bob, a homebody. There is a lot of great hunting without going too far away.

And grass and sunshine and a beardog!

Inside, with a wire crate half way folded to add a kitten barrier to the gate, Bear and Auggie grow ever closer. So much fun to watch.

A week.

Snippets of life

Last weekend’s haul from Farmer’s Market.

Contemplating one’s navel???

A colorful and scrumptious salad from the Farmer’s Market bounty.

What????

This morning.

Thunderbolt just ground beans make the morning coffee: local roaster Colter Coffee.

Roasted peppers from Farmer’s Market.

Dough rising for English Muffins.

Auggie blur…the tail up and crooked signals VERY HAPPY CAT!!

This was an early morning “explore the house” outing, while Bear was snoring on the bed.

Hey, I’ve been in here for…FIVE minutes…ALL…BY…MYSELF!!

Call me when the kid grows up.

Meanwhile, someone has to keep an eye on the place.

Introducing Augustus Robert: Auggie

Hey guys, I’m Auggie!!!

What a day…I think I need a nap.

Yep…naptime.

Bear, if it is any consolation, Bob felt the same way when we brought you home…

KittyMom’s Rescue, the organization to which I donated some of Bob’s elder cat items, had an adoption day today.

Bear and I went.

We came home with Auggie.

Auggie is 3 1/2 months old by his first vet’s reckoning. He and his brother wandered to a home east of East Glacier, MT. The kindly folks who fostered them for several weeks were at the event this morning. So kind and wonderful and they were able to tell me that the 2 brother kittens were standing outside their fence while their dogs were barking. Somehow these kittens knew safe haven. Having met the couple, I completely understand – they exude compassion and love.

They were also able to tell me a bit about their personalities and at one point the Mr. said …and they travel well. WOW.

One brother was all orange and one was orange with white markings.

I hated the thought of separating the brothers.

I arrived at the event about 30 seconds before it was to start and the parking lot was full. The adoption area was packed! But most were around the 8 week old kittens.

I decided I would take both brothers vs leaving one by himself. I really wanted the one with white markings as the couple had told me he was the most confident.

BUT.

In walked a couple who knew the people who brought the 2 and lived near them. WHAT are the odds – these folks are from about 100 miles away!

This couple wanted 1 of these kittens – they thought they were related to a cat they had that just died.

They wanted the solid colored kitten.

Is the hair on the back of your neck standing up?

The 2 couples and I all chatted as we waited for all paperwork, etc. I was so pleased. I loved these 4 people and how they loved animals.

I never heard how the 4 happened to be in Kalispell, MT.

Augustus after my first ever cat: Gus
Robert for Mr. Bob

Augustus Robert – to be known as Auggie.